And former CBS News Correspondent Bernard Goldberg, who has long alleged liberal bias in the media, highlighted that line as indicative of the media's "slobbering" press coverage of candidate Obama during his campaign for the White House.

Goldberg, the author of the new book “A Slobbering Love Affair,” credits the media coverage of the 2008 presidential election for ultimately resulting in Barack Obama's victory.

He specifically faulted coverage of the prolonged Democratic primary campaign, during which two historic candidates contentiously squared off.

"I think in elite liberal circles, certainly inside the media, race trumps gender, and that's why they slobbered over Barack Obama, and took Hillary Clinton to the back room and beat her with a rubber hose,” Goldberg said.

Goldberg also faulted political journalists for not digging up controversial sermons of the president's longtime pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, until Obama had already effectively captured his party's nomination.

"These tapes were available, you didn't have to be Woodward or Bernstein to dig them up," Goldberg said. "If those tapes had come out six months earlier, certainly a year earlier, I don't think Barack Obama would have been the nominee.

"I think Hillary Clinton would have been. And I think she would have been the president today," he continued. "And in that sense, she's the biggest loser in all of this."

soundoff(607 Responses)

Suzanne

What's the big deal.? Obama is an inspirational speaker....ever notice the happy crowds he draws. I don't always agree with Chris Matthews ; he can be a little over the top on things but I admire him for publicly admitting that he was moved by Obama. The media can't just ignore how much this president is loved by an awful lot of people.

February 22, 2009 02:52 pm at 2:52 pm |

Steve

Maybe "Goldberg" should take his complaints to the Elders who run the media...

February 22, 2009 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |

Frank

It apppears to me that the media had even a bigger "slobbering love affair" with Sarah Palin and her family. The media was actually tougher and more critical of Brack Obama than any other presidential candidate in recent history. As usual, the conservatives are hypocritical and fail to acknowledge that there is there is probably much more conservative media than there is liberal media. All the media, including CNN, had a slobbering love affair with Sarah Palin, and that cannot be denied!

February 22, 2009 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |

Frank

It appears to me that the media had even a bigger "slobbering love affair" with Sarah Palin and her family. The media was actually tougher and more critical of Brack Obama than any other presidential candidate in recent history. As usual, the conservatives are hypocritical and fail to acknowledge that there is there is probably much more conservative media than there is liberal media. All the media, including CNN, had a slobbering love affair with Sarah Palin, and that cannot be denied!

February 22, 2009 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |

Collette

Without a doubt Mathews wants to be "behind" Obam. No question there.

February 22, 2009 02:54 pm at 2:54 pm |

IndependentfromTexas.

Didn't they have the same crush with Ronald Reagan?

February 22, 2009 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |

Larry

Keep an open mind—the NEW Republicans(Bush is gone) will SAVE you,keep your options open ,no one but the far left (Socialist) are going to be happy with the direction Obama's taking our country,what I'm saying now you too will be saying soon, as well as more and more of the media realize it their country too.Just keep an open mind.

February 22, 2009 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |

Get Real

Nina D., you are a complete idiot. All elections in some form or fashion are rigged. No one has commented on the Black Panthers that were at a voting precinct in PA trying to intimidate voters. What do you call that. Let them try that with me!!!! I dare them.

February 22, 2009 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |

InCompleteProcess

No more of a man crush than this idiot has on Rush Limbaugh. AT least Chris Matthews has better taste

February 22, 2009 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |

Texas Teacher

Anyone who supports Obama right now is the enemy. I hope he has lots of protection. Because that powers that be do NOT want his stimulus package. They've been getting rich way too long... and they aren't going to jump off that gravy train. And sadly the Media is right along there with them. They as well have way too much to lose. We are living in hard days... hard days for the little man.

February 22, 2009 02:56 pm at 2:56 pm |

carlos

The media, simply because MSNBC is liberal, anyone seen the garbage coming from FOX. So what if Chris Matthews was in the tank for Obama.
We, the American people voted for him, and personally, I think he is the right man at the right time.

February 22, 2009 02:56 pm at 2:56 pm |

HRen

What a bigoted remark that was sunoverla.The only bias I see in the media is on Fox News.

February 22, 2009 02:57 pm at 2:57 pm |

meh

Mark> You're right that she didn't say that. HOWEVER, she DID say that b/c you can see Russia from an island off the coast of Alaska that somehow she has foreign policy experience, which is a complete load of crap, and just as bad as the SNL exaggeration.

February 22, 2009 02:57 pm at 2:57 pm |

B LOPWZ

Mr. Goldgerg and the Republicans still cannot accept the fact that President Obama won the election not because of his race or because of the media but because he is brilliant. I believe the Republicans are terrified that a black man is intellectually superior to some members in their party....Limbaugh, Palin, Steele to name a few. Also, let us not forget the past president. In case you are wondering, I was going to vote for McCain until he chose his running mate and I heard her speak....she is an idiot.

I have great faith that President Obama has the best interest of the American people at heart. This is the first time in many years that I feel we have a chance to get out of mess we have been in for so long.

February 22, 2009 02:58 pm at 2:58 pm |

mh

Matthews is so irrelevant. Who listens to him anyway – or for that matter anyone in the "main stream media". They are all so far in the tank for Obama that nothing they say can be believed. When Obama finally surpresses free speech rights altogether maybe then they will wake up. In the mean time – Matthews should resign.

February 22, 2009 02:58 pm at 2:58 pm |

karen

What a crock of s___! More right wing neocon slobbering over why they lost the election trying to keep up the myth that the news media has a liberal bias. The news media historically has had a bias for the truth, which has been practically eliminated by the neocon hysteria. I've got some news for the neocons: YOU LOST AND YOU WILL CONTINUE TO LOSE BECAUSE AMERICANS HAVE FINALLY SEEN YOUR LIES FOR WHAT THEY ARE, LIES, LIES AND MORE LIES!

February 22, 2009 02:59 pm at 2:59 pm |

Sharyn Compton

Go to Facebook and join the group "I have more foreign policy experience than Sarah Palin" it's good for the soul and FYI I love Chris Matthews – so there all you haters. Yes We can!

February 22, 2009 02:59 pm at 2:59 pm |

SG Baker

Well, how many times were the votes counted in the 2000 election that "Big Carbon Emitter Al Gore LOST"? You Lefties are still screaming count the votes. Yeah, I also heard the homophobic comment by Chris Matthews. But then again, what can you say good about GE and its subsidiaries. More losers. The media swooped down on Alaska like a bunch of hungry buzzards digging up dirt of Palin from the moment she was announced as the VP. Agree with FOX though, they at least give a "Fair and Balanced report on all issues". Don't believe it, Watch and see for yourself. Of course everyone other than the Demogogues are illiterate and dumb, aren't they?

February 22, 2009 03:00 pm at 3:00 pm |

Jim

It seems Goldberg, once a reliable and solid reporter, has gone sour. Either he is getting big bucks from the right wing or he has become just one more bitter old man.? What do you think???

February 22, 2009 03:00 pm at 3:00 pm |

MFS

Does Chris Matthews purport that he is unbiased and only reports the news? I know Shawn H. and Rush L, clearly state that they are conservatives. If someone like Wolf B., Britt Hume, or Lou Dobbs, call themselves journalists, then they have a duty to present a fair and balanced perspective. On the other hand, people like Fred Barnes, Campbell Brown, and Reuben Navarre (sp?) are free to editorialize for whoever wants to listen.

February 22, 2009 03:01 pm at 3:01 pm |

Ohio Lady

I saw the interview this morning with Goldberg. What a drag! So, Chris Matthews was easy on Obama. That would hardly make up for Fox News ripping him apart from morning till night.....making their fans practically think that Obama is a card carrying Communist. CNN wasn't always that easy on Obama either, ever bending over backwards to show both sides of the story, unlike FOX. SO WHAT if people like Obama? How much nicer is it to have world leaders praising our President than rolling on the floor, holding their sides, mocking how stupid our President is. How much nicer it is to have someone who can speak without readin' every word!

The truth is that John McCain said several months ago that he really didn't know that much about the economy. Does Sarah Palin? Would Goldberg really have liked them to be in charge of this mess that Bush has left behind? Even Hillary would have had it rough....and even if Bill Clinton were back in it would be rough right now. I wish the media will give Obama the time to do something rather than criticizing his every move. The guy has only been President for one month. It took Bush and Cheney eight years to screw it up as badly as it is.
Get boring guys like Goldberg off CNN. Isn't there anything better to talk about? There are enough people at CNN lately who obviously don't like Obama, and they'll take care of things without Goldberg's two cents.

February 22, 2009 03:01 pm at 3:01 pm |

John Lubeck

Republicans and their commentators keep up their full court press in their attempt to destroy America as we know it.

February 22, 2009 03:01 pm at 3:01 pm |

Thomas

Perhaps Matthews is enamored with Obama because he can speak in complete sentences...unlike Bush II.

February 22, 2009 03:01 pm at 3:01 pm |

Jim

People need to make their own informed decisions through looking at all sides. Whether, right, left or center, media personalities only offer personal or corporate opinion ... not fact. View it all, then choose what works best for your situation rather than simply being lead by the opinion of other.

February 22, 2009 03:01 pm at 3:01 pm |

Jeff

Race trumps gender? Sorry, no. I wouldn't have voted for Hillary Clinton if she were running to be elected Hillary Clinton.